Born to be the One (2024)

Which "One"?

A mature Chinese drama about ordinary people and their daily lives in the bustling capital?
Everything I'm looking forward to watching.

The story of three couples at different stages of life shows us how the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle of the metropolis transforms us in different ways we don't even realize, regardless of the country we live in.

After all, people are people.

Mundane yet extremely relatable dramas, with a couple in their 40s afraid and insecure about having to start over, and other couples realizing they're looking for different things for the future, and their partner doesn't seem to be the right companion for that.

But as the drama's title suggests, we were born to be the "one." But what is this "one"? What are we expected to be? What we already are now, or the result of others' expectations? These questions permeate the psyches of our protagonists, bringing about different actions and consequences in their lives.

What is truly important?

Be loyal to your bosses who treat you as disposable, or be loyal to yourself and those who will be by your side when you hit your lowest point?

Adapt to a lifestyle that makes no sense to you, just to please your partner's materialistic desires?

Accept the reality that society imposes on success and give up your health in pursuit of the desired financial freedom, in exchange for all other aspects of your life?

The drama's strongest point is developing these stories without making a definitive judgment value about which path is the right "one" or who is definitively right and who is wrong. On the contrary, it reinforces the different ways of living in this modern world we inhabit, and how different personalities and goals can, and should, bring different meanings to what it means to be the "one," something that everyone is to themselves, their own protagonists in their own story, but who are not necessarily beings who follow and aspire to travel the same path.

Once again, a Chinese series, from a country on the other side of the globe, manages to connect with me in a way that no other series from a "neighboring" country can, demonstrating the country's strength in this style of narrative, which for me is its strongest point in these fictional stories.

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The beautiful song of the common people

This slice-of-life drama from 2024 is among the most beautiful and warm pieces of art in the form of drama that I recall from recent years. I’ve seen masterpieces, immersive, rollercoaster-like, magnificent, simple, riveting, soothing, emotional, and touching ones, but until now, very few can be labeled as beautiful and warm. Born to Be the One is that.

I approached it with mistrust, knowing almost nothing about it and expecting to get bored soon. God, I was wrong! I didn´t want it to end, I wanted to go on with them in their journeys.

It’s inspired by (and I would also say dedicated to) middle-class people in all shapes and forms. Perhaps now you’re thinking this is not a drama for you because life is already hard enough to immerse yourself in lives so close to your reality, but I tell you: the journey is beyond worthy. You’ll laugh, cry, reflect, enjoy, smile, get mad, feel understood, feel happy and not so — but you’ll never feel desperate, alone, or depressed. You’ll feel part of it, and part of its people.

The story is told through the lives of three couples. The main one is a family: they’re both 40 year old, have a 10-year-old daughter and an almost 1½-year-old baby. Each of this couple’s younger brothers has their own story: the female lead’s brother is in his early 30s and married, the male lead’s brother is in his late 20s and has a girlfriend. Their family backgrounds are also diverse: lonely mothers, widows, parents who live in the countryside, parents who both died in an accident. Same with their jobs, their work/career trajectories, and the different segments that exist within the middle class.

Through them, and in a very close and relatable way, the drama reflects on universal topics: the importance of choosing a partner who shares your values and of being honest about what you want in life; the struggles of women in modern society — in all shapes and forms; the idealization of the countryside and the big cities; the savage competition and stress in work environments and their consequences; the rising cost of living; family relationships; unemployment after turning 35 or 40. All possible scenarios are here.

There are so, so many scenes I’d like to highlight — again, beautifully done and acted — but I don’t wan tto spoil anything. They’re all so smoothly executed that the script deserves recognition indeed (and I usually don’t emphasize this aspect). I know the show has several nominations, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the script is among them.

The storytelling is also of my liking. The first episodes are slow because of the setup, but then the drama tackles so many things that, without realizing it, you’ll find yourself ruminating about them while not watching. The OST is also enchanting, inspiring, touching, warm — and it follows you unconsciously.

Finally, the acting. The main couple is flawless: so realistic and natural that many times you forget you’re watching a drama and feel like you’re spying through a camera in a real home. The rest of the main cast is also very solid, even the actress I usually don’t like and doesn’t have much range - Here, the character fits her like a glove. And the same can be said for practically everyone. Special shout out to the young actress who plays the daughter!

Although its setting is local and it addresses some local issues, humankind has no boundaries and neither does the core message of this drama: Life isn’t perfect and has its ups and downs. In the end, there isn’t one best way to live; everyone has their own, and as long as you’re not a bad person, you have to live your life in the way that suits you best and makes you happy.

It's a beautiful, warm, relatable, and truly universal drama. Hope you enjoy it too, if you give it a chance.

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